Lock construction



Oct. 11, 1932.

I P. s GRIERSON ET AL LOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed July 22. 1931 (L w-wk ATTORNEY 1. A3, 2 I O Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL S. GRIERSON, OF MILLIBURN, NEW JERSEY, AND GRAHAM. BRIGHT, OF WILKINS- IBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS, IBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 THOMAS A. EDISON, INCOBPORATED,'OF VIEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY LOOK CONSTRUCTION Application filed July 22, 1931. Serial No. 552,312.

Our invention relates to lock construction and'more particularly to an improved magnetic lock device adapted to secure relatively movable members in a given relative position. While our invention is adapted for many uses, it is particularly designed for locking the cover of a container, such as a storage battery container, in closed position.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a lock device of improved construction and comprising a part or parts which, when the members to be secured together are in a given relative position, are adapted upon movement thereof to a certain position automatically to coact with another part or parts of such device to lock said members in said relative position.

Another object ofour invention is to provide a magnetic lock device of such construction that when the same is in operative or looking condition, it is adapted to be read ily released or unlocked by a special form of magnet, preferably a magnet having opposed north and south poles,-which may be either a permanent or an electromagnet. v

Another object of our invention is to provide a lock device of this character, which is of such construction as effectively to prevent the same from being released or unlocked by tampering therewith, as by subjecting the same to shocks and jars, or otherwise than by use of a magnet of the form designed to effect the unlocking thereof.

Still further objects of our invention are to provide a magnetic lock device which is simple in construction, effective in operation and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and features of our invention will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed.

In order that our invention may be more clearly understood, attention is directed to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, of the upper end portion of a can or container to which one form of lock device in accordance with our construction is applied, the cover of the container being shown locked in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, a magnet positioned to effect the unlocking of the lock device being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation looking from the right in Fig.1, a magnet for releasing the lock device being shown, by dotted lines, in operative position; A Fig. 4 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 3 but with the magnet omitted and with the casing for certain parts of the lock device shown in section on line 44 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4, parts being shown in elevation; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5, with parts shown in elevation. 7

Referring to the drawing, reference character 1 designates a substantially rectangular metallic can or container, such, for example, as is ordinarily employed for the storage battery ofa miners safety lamp outfit. A flanged lid or cover2 is hinged at 3 to the container adjacent the upper end thereof.

A rectangular plate 4 is suitably secured, as by spot-welding, to the front end of cover 2 against the inner surface of the flange thereof. A tongue or projection 5 is suitably secured at one end to plate 4, as by being riveted thereto, and projects outward- 1y from the cover 2 through a suitable opening provided in the latter. The tongue 5 has a frusto-conical head 6 at its forward end and a generally cylindrical shank, that portion of the shank adjacent head 6 being slightly tapered, as indicated at? in Fig. 5, and the rest of the shank being of uniform size. .At its diametrically opposite sides and between the head 6 and plate 4, the said shank is provided with flattened surfaces 8. The head 6 is provided at diametrically opposite points, with portions 9 which extend rearwardly for a slight distance in parallel and opposed relation to the flattened surfaces 8.

The tongue 5 is adapted to cooperate with a device A which is pivotally mounted, as will presently be described, on the front end intermediate inclined section.

wall of the container. The device A comprises a casing consisting of a flanged substantially rectangular shell 10 open at one side and a flat plate 11 secured, as by rivets, to the flange of shell 10' so as to close the open side of the latter, said shell and plate both being formed of non-magnetic fairly heavy sheet metal. A bracket 12, preferably formed of stiff heavy sheet metal, is secured as by spot-welding to the front end wall of container 1 and comprises an upwardly and outwardly extending angular portion 12 having a pair of spaced horizontally aligned hollow cylindrical portions 13 in which a pivot pin 14 is mounted. The

lower flan ed portion of shell 10 is provided with an extension 15 in the form of a hollow cylindrical portion which loosely embraces the pin 14, said device A being thus pivotally mounted on the container for swinging movement about a horizontal axis. A fairly stiff leaf spring 16 is formed at one end with a part cylindrical portion 17 embracing the extension 15, the spring thus being mounted on pivot pin 14 with its main portion extending upwardly between the front end wall of container 1 and the plate 11. l/Vhen the device A is in operative locking position, as shown, the spring 16 is tensioned and tends to move said device outwardly about pin 14 to its inoperative or unlocking position. The upper flangedportion of shell 10 has an extension 18 in the form of a partcylindrical portion, which'constitutes a handle whereby the device A may be read ily moved from inoperative position about pin 14 and against the action of spring 16, to the operative or locking position thereof, as shown.

' When the device A" is moved against the action of spring 16 to the operative or locking position thereof shown in the drawing, the tongue 5 on cover 2, if the latter is then in closed position, will enter and extend into thecasing of said device through the opening 11 in plate 11, whereupon the head 6 will coact with a pair of locking elements or levers 19 disposedwithin such casing to securedv vice A in its said operative position and thereby effect the locking of the cover 2. The levers 1-9 are of similar construction, each being made of a flat substantially rectangularpiece of strongly magnetic metal, such as soft iron, and being formed with straight substantially parallel end. sections and a long These levers are of a length slightly less than the inner longer dimension of shell 10 and'are disposed loosely within the latter closely acent the plate 11 and with the sidesurfaces thereof normal to said plate. The long intermedi ate inclined portions of levers 19 are respectively connected to the lower strai 'ht end sections thereof by sharp angular portions 20, the levers being arranged in shell 10 with said angular portions in opposed relation, as shown. A spiral compression spring 21 is disposed between the lower straight end sections of the levers with its ends respectively engaging over 'sh ortinwardly extending pins 22 carried by the levers. The angular portions of levers 19 provide fulcrum points adapted respectively to engage the inner sur: faces of the opposed side walls. of shell 1'0, and the spring 21, being in a state of compression, constantly acts to maintain said fulcrum points in such engagement and tends to move the upper end portions of the levers 19 about said fulcrum points towards each other. Reference character 223 represents a spacing and positioning member for the looking levers 19, said member being secured within shell 10 in the fxed position shown, as by being riveted to the front wall of said shell. The member'23 comprises a forward end portion 24 which is of substantially the same width as the distance between the opposite side walls of shell 10 and which coacts with levers 19 to maintain the same in proper position adjacent the plate 11 and to prevent them from turning sidewise about their longitudinal edges. Said member also comprises a reduced portion 25.which extends rearwardly from the portion 24 between the straight upper end sections of levers 19 and which coact with said sections to limit the inward movement thereof under the action of spring 21. The reduced portion 25 of member 23 is of such a width that when the device A is in'its inoperative or unlocking position, it will maintain the upper straight end sections of levers 19 spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of r the forward smaller end of the head 6 of tongue 5. The upper end portions of levers 19 are reduced in width, as indicated at 26, so as to be adapted to coact with tongue 5 to secure the device A in operative locking position. 7

When the cover 2 of container 1 is in closed position, with the device A in its inoperative or unlocked position, and it is desired to lock said cover in such closed position, it is merely necessary to move said device upwardly about pin 14 until the upper end portion thereof engages the cover and to then release the same. In such upward swinging movement of device A, the frusto-conical head 6 of-tongue 5 enters shell 10 through the opening 11 in plate 11 and the reduced upper end portions 26 of levers 19 pass over said head 6 and are thereby forced apart against the action of spring 21. Then the portions 26 have passed clear over head 6 and its rearwardly extending portions 9, spring 21 at once acts to move levers 19 about their fulcrum points 20 so as to bring the reduced end portions 26 thereof respectively in engagement with the flattened surfaces 8 of the shank of tongue 5. Upon 1311611'n1 0\- ing the pressure exerted in moving the device A about pin 14lto its operative position, spring 16 acts to move said device outwardly away from'the container- 1 to a position in which the forward edges of the reduced end portions 26 of levers 19 are respectively 'irmly engaged with the notches or seats 9- formed or provided between the shanl: portion 2 of tongue 5 and the rearwardly extending .lJOI": tions 9 of head 6. It will thus be apparent that a simple manipulation of the device A will result in automatically locking the cover in closed position;

When the cover 2 is secured in closed po* sition by our improved lock mechanism, the

parts are disposed as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. It is then practically impossible to release the lock mechanism by tampering therewith or otherwise than by the use ofa suitable magnet: a direct pull exerted on handle 18 will of course be ineffective as the head 6 will coact at its rear surface with the reduced upper end portions 26 of levers 19 to prevent outward swinging movement of device A; merely arring the device A as by subjecting one side or the other of shell '10 to taps or blows will be ineffective as the portions 9 of head 6 will then act to prevent either of the levers 19 from being thrown or moved away from the shank of tongue 5; and finally if the device A is moved inwardly so that the upper portion of the plate 11 is engaged with the cover 2 and said device is then subjected to jarring, as just described, the most thatis likely to happen is that one of the levers may be thrown or moved away from the shank of tongue 5 while the other lever will remain in engagement therewith. Accordingly, it will be apparent that we have provided a construction which effectually prevents unauthorized releasing of the lock mechanism and opening of the cover 2 of container 1.

The lock mechanism is adapted to be released to thereby efiect the unlocking of the cover 2 by means of a magnet 30, shown in' dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. The magnet3O is a permanent magnet (althoiwh an electromagnet may be used) and is constructed witl' its north and south poles in opposed spaced relation, t e space between the poles being slightly greater than the width of the main rectangularportion of shell 10. To release the lock mechanism from its operative condition, it is merely necessary to relatively posi tion container 1 and magnet 30, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, with the upper end portion of shell disposed between the poles of the magnet,'and to then force the device A in wardly about pin 14: against the action of spring16 until its upper end portion thereof is practically in engagement with the.

cover 2, whereupon the reduced upper end portions 26 of levers 19 will be clear of the rearwardly projecting portions 9 of tongue 5. Underthe attraction of magnet 30, levers 19 will then be moved about fulcrum points 20 against the action of spring 21 so as to swing the upper end portions thereof away from tongue 5 and clear of the head 6 thereof, thus permitting device A to be swung downwardly about pin 1% and entirely clear of tongue 5. To facilitate thereleasing operation just described, magnet may be and preferably is mounted upon a rigid support. VJ hen the magnet is so mounted the container 1 may readily be operatively positioned with respect to the magnet, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and pressed thereagainst to thereby effect the re leasing of the locking levers 19 in the manner just described.

While the construction shown and specifically described herein constitutes a preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that the sameis subject to many modifications, including changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts, without departure from the spirit of our invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is as follows: I

1. Locking mechanism comprising relatively movable cooperative devices, one of said devices comprising a pair of relatively movable magnetic locking elements which when said devices are in cooperative relation, are biased'toward each other and to operative locking position in respect to the other of said devices, said devices each including means which when such devices are in cooperative relation, are adapted to coact so as to positively prevent movement of said elements away from each other to inoperative or unlocking position.

2. Locking mechanism comprising cooperative devices which are relatively movable to and from cooperative relation, one of said devices comprising a headed member and the other of said devices comprising a pair of relatively movable magnetic locking elements which are biased toward each other, said headed member upon bringing said devices to cooperativerelation passing between said locking elements thereby forcing them apart and thereafter permitting such elements to move toward each other and into locking position in respect to said member.

3. Locking mechanism comprising cooperative devices which are relatively movable to and from cooperative relation, one of said devices comprising a headed member and the other of said devices comprising a.

pair of relatively movable magnetic locking elements which are biased toward each other, said headed member upon bringing said devices to cooperative relation passing between said locking elements thereby forcing them apart and thereafter permitting such elements to move towardeach other and into locking position in respect'to said member,

and a casing enclosing said locking elements, said casing having an opening through which, upon bringing said devices to cooperative. relation, said headed member is adapted to enter the casing for coaction with said elements.

4. Locking mechanism comprising relatively movable cooperative devices, one of said devices comprising a pair of relatively movable locking elements which when saidv devices are in cooperative relation, are biased toward each otherand to operative locking position in respect to the other of said devices, said devices each being provided with means which when the devices are in cooperative relation and in a'given relative position, coact to positively prevent movement of said elements away from each other, and means adapted normally to maintain said devices in said given relative position when the devices are in cooperative relation. 7

5. The combination with relatively movable members, ofmeans adapted to lock said members together comprising cooperative devices respectively applied to' such members, one of said devices comprising a headed member and the other of said devices comprising a casing of non-magnetic material and a pair of relatively movable magnetic locking elements disposed in said casing, said elementsbeing biased toward each other, one of said devices being mounted on one of said members for movement to and from cooperative relation with respect to the other of such devices, said casing having an opening, the head of said'headed member upon said devices being brought to cooperative relation, entering said casing through said opening and passing said locking elements between the same thereby forcing them away from each other and thereafter permitting said elements to move into operative locking position in respect to said headed member.

6. The combination with relatively movable members, of means adapted to lock said members together comprising,cooperative devices respectively applied to such members, one of said devices comprising a headed member and the other of said devices com prising a casing of non-magnetic material and a pair of relatively movable magnetic locking elements disposed in said casing, said elements being biased toward each other, one of said devices being mounted on one of said members for movement to and from cooperative relation with respect to the other of such devices, said casing having an opening, the head of said headed member upon said devices being brought to cooperative relation, entering said casing through said opening and passing said locking elements between the same thereby forcing them away from each other and thereafter permitting said elements to move into operative locking position in respect to said headed member, and

resilient means constantly tending to move one of said devices from cooperative relation with respect to the other of, such. devices.

7. The combination with relatively mov-,

able members, of means adapted to lock said members together comprising cooperative devices respectively applied to such. members,. one of said devices comprising a headed memberand the other of said devices comprising a casing and, a pair of relatively movable locking elements disposed in said casing, said elements being biased toward each other, one of said devices being mounted on one of said members for movement to and from cooperative relation with respect to the other of such devices, said casing having an opening, the head of said headed member upon said devices being brought'to' cooperative relation entering said casing through said opening and. passing said locking elements betweenthe same thereby forcing them away from each other and thereafter permitting said elements to moveinto operative locking position in" respect to said headed member, said locking elements and headed member being provided with co-acting means which when said devices are incooperative relation and in a given relative position posi tively prevent outward movement of. said elements away from each other, and. means for yieldingly holding said devices in said given position when the same are in such coperative relation.

8. The combination with relatively movable members, of means adapted to lock said members together comprising cooperative devices respectively applied to such members, one of said devices comprising a headed member and theother of said devices comprising 'a casing having an opening for said headed member and a pair of relatively movable magnetic locking elements disposed in said casing, said elements being biased towards each other, one of said devices being pivotally mounted on one of said members for movement to and from cooperativerelation with respect to the otherof said devices, the arrangement being such that upon the movement of said pivoted device to cooperative relation with respect to. the other of said de vices, the head of said headed member enters said casing through'said opening and passes said elements between the same forcing them apart and thereafter permits said elements to move toward each other and into locking position with respect to said headed member.

9. The combination with relatively movable members, of means adapted to lock said members together comprising cooperative devices respectively applied to such members, one of said devices comprising a headed member and the other of said devicescomprising a casing having an opening for said headed member and a pair of relatively movable magnetic locking elements disposed in said lot casing, said elements being biased toward each other, one of said devices being plvotally moimted on one of said members for movement to and from cooperative relation with respect to the other of said devices, the arrangement being such that upon the movement of said pivoted device to cooperative relation with respect to the other of said devices, the head of said headed member enters said casing through said opening and passes said elements between the same forcing them apart and thereafter permits said elements to move toward each other and into locking position with respect to said headed members, and resilient means coacting with said pivoted device and the member to which it is applied, constantly tending to move such device from cooperating relation with respect to the other of said devices.

10. The combination with relatively movable members, of means adapted to lock said members together comprising cooperative devices respectively applied to such members, one of said devices comprising a headed memher and the other of said devices comprising a casing having an opening for said headed member and a pair of relatively movable locking elements disposed in sa1d casing, said elements being biased toward each other, one

of said devices being pivotally mounted on one of said members for movement to and from cooperative relation with respect to the other of said devices, the arrangement being such that upon the movement of said pivoted device to cooperative relation with respect to the other of said devices, the head of said member enters said casing thru said opening and passes said elements between the same forcing them apart and thereafter permits said elements to move toward each other and into locking position with respect to said headed member, said elements and headed member being provided with co-actin g means which when said devices are in cooperative relation and in a given relative position, to positively prevent movement of said elements away from each. other, and resilient means acting with said pivoted device and the memher to which it is applied for yieldingly maintaining said devices in said given relative position when they are in cooperative relation.

11. The combination with relatively movable members, of means adapted to lock said members together comprising cooperative devices respectively applied to said members, one of said devices comprising a headed member and the other of said devices comprising a casing pivotally mounted for movement to and from cooperative relation with respect to said headed member and a pair of relatively movable magnetic locking elements which are disposed in said casing and are biased toward each other, said casing being provided with an opening, the construction being such that when said casing is moved to cooperative relation with respectto said headed member, the head of the latter enters said casing thru said openingand passes said elements between the same forcing them apart and thereafter permits said elements to movetoward each otherintolocks ing position with respect to said headed member. v

' 12. The combination with relatively movable members, of means adapted to lock said members together comprising cooperative devices respectively applied. to said members, one of said devices comprising a headed member and the other of said devices com.- prising a casing pivotally mounted for movement to and from cooperative relation. with respect to said headed'memberand a pain of relatively movable locking elements which are disposed in said casing and are biased toward each other, said casing being provided with an opening, the construction being such that when said casing is moved to cooperative relation with respect to said headed member, the head of the latter enters said casing thru said opening and passes said elements between the same forcing them apart and said elements thereafter move toward each other into lockingposition with respect to said headed member, said elements and headed member being provided with means co-acting when said devices are in cooperative relation and in a given relative position, to positively prevent movement of said elements away from each other, and resilient means co-acting with said casing and the member to which the respective device is applied for yieldingly maintaining the said devices in said given relative position when they are in such cooperative relation.

13. Looking mechanism of the character described, comprising relatively movable cooperative devices, one of said devices comprisinga casing and a pair of magnetic locking v elements freely disposed in said casin in opposed relation, said elements respectively having intermediate opposed angular sections providing such elements with fulcrum points adapted respectively to cooperate with opposite side walls of said casing, and spring means coacting with said elements adjacent one end thereof and constantly tending to move said elements about said fulcrum points and toward each other at the opposite end thereof, said casing being provided with an opening through which the other of said devices is adapted to enter the casing for coaction with said elements adjacent the said opposite end thereof.

l4. Locking mechanism of the character described, comprising relatively movable cooperative devices,,one of said devices comprising a casing and a pair of magnetic locking elements freely disposed in said casing in opposed relation, said elements respectively having intermediate opposed angular sections providing such elements with fulcrum points adapted respectively to cooperate with opposite side walls of said casing, spring means coaeting with said elements adjacent one end thereof and constantly tending to move said elements about said fulcrum points and toward each other at the opposite end thereof, said casing being provided with an openihg'through which the other of 'said devices is adapted to enter the casing forcoaction with said elements adjacent the said opposite end thereof, and means applied to Said casing :and icoacting' therewith to main tain i-said elements properly positioned in opposed relation in the casing and to limit the movement of said elements toward each other at the ends thereof adapted to coact with said other device.

' This specification signed by PAUL S. GRIER- son this 14th day of July, 1931.

PAUL S. GRIERSON.. V This specification signed by GRAHAM BRIGHT this 15th day of July, 1931.

GRAHAM BRIGHT.

CERTiFICATE OF CORRETION Eatert Ni). 5,88L5H. ()ctohcr H, 1932.

PAU, S. GRlERSON, ET AL.

a'smve numbered paieizt requiring cerrection as follows: 10, strike on: the word "to"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with (Ms cerrection therein ihat the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Sged and sealed this 28th day of February, A. D. 1933.

M. 1. Moore Aeaing (lommiss (Seai) mner of Patents. 

